Explosive fuel mixture and method of making the same



Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE.-

JOSEPH E. BABB, OF PITTSIBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR T0 WAVERLY OIL WORKSCOMPANY, OF PITTSIBURGI-I PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

EXPLOSIVR FUEL MIXTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

No Drawing.

To all who) it may mil-corn Be it known that, I. Josmur l). Bane, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Explosive Fuel Mixtures and Methods of Making the Same; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a mixture that may be added. to the fuels of internal co1nbnstion engines, for thepurpose of permitting increase of compression and effecting more uniform compression in the engine cylinders.

One object of my invention is to provide a lead compound that is soluble in gasolene, kerosene and other motor fuels, to increase the effectiveness thereof, but which is nevertheless not dangerous to the life and health of those engaged in its manufacture or use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mixture containing lead soap that is soluble in gasolene and benzohwhich does not belong to the alkyl and phenylcompounds, nor to the ethyl or methyl groups of hydrocarbons, of the type formulas CnH2n+2 and CnHQn, for example.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved mixture and method of making the same that is of simple composi tion, effective in use, and which is not dangerous to the operator either during the stages of manufacture thereof, or when ready for use. 4

This invention constitutes an improvement on that disclosed in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 756,071, filed December 15, 1924, wherein I describe a lead soap that is soluble in gasolene, to the extent of 10%, and is soluble in benzol to the extent of 50%, by weight. When this solution is mixed with gasolene in such quantity that the lead content thereof is one-thousandth part of the whole, a very satisfactory motor fuel is secured, which will permit of materially increased compression without producing knocks.

In practicing my invention, '1 may first subject the rosin to distillation, preferably in a fire still. The resultant distillate is Application filed February 14, 1925. Serial No. 9,301.

popularly known as rosin oil. Rosin oil is a commercial commodity and I may prefer to purchase it in the open market.

In the manufacture of my lead compound, the. distilled rosinis heated in an open fire kettle to a temperature of perhaps M0 0., and oxide of lead, such as the monoxide of lead known as lithargc, is added to the resin in quantities sutlicient to neutralize the acids of the rosin. The heat is maintained and the mixture is agitated until the oxide of lead has been completely combined with the acids of the rosin.

The foregoing forms what I term a lead soap and is solubl in gasolene and benzol, to the extent of 10% and 50%, respectively, or the solution may be of any strength below saturation. The soap is also soluble in acetone which may be employed instead of gasolene or benzol. This concentrated solution may then be added to the main body of the motor fuel, preferably in such amount that the portion of lead in the fuel is 1 to 1000.

The present invention relates, in part to the production of basic lead soaps of varying degrees of basicity, through partial neutralization of acids by the metallic element, to thereby increase the solubility of the soap. I have found that if only one-half of the acids are neutralized, or in other Words, if the amount of the metallic element in proportion to the acid is materially decreased,

the solubilit of the soap is-increased. Thus if ,only oneialf of the quantity of lead necessary to completely neutralize the acids of the distilled rosin is employed, the'resulting soap is soluble in gasolene to the extent of approximately 25%. by weight.

Instead of decreasing the proportion of lead to acid, as just-described, I may vary the basicity of the soap by adding thereto the rosin acids, oleic acid, acetic acid, or the like, in an amount equal to that required to form a neutral soap, or the proportions may be varied in any desired degree. The acid in excess of that necessary to produce a neutral soap may be introduced after the soap is dissolved in benzol, gasolcne, or other fuel, if desired.

Lead soap may be manufactured also by first neutralizing the rosin acids with an alkali such as caustic soda or potash, to

form a soluble soap and then adding a. soluble lead salt, such as lead chloride or lead acetate, to change the soluble soap to insoluble lead soap. The lead soap is subsequently washed to free it from the soluble alkali salts and then dried. Thereafter it may be mixed with gasolenc or benzol, as in the case of the lead soap made after the method above described.

Furthermore, in place of the distilled products of rosin above described I may employ products obtainable by distillation of the crude gums from which rosin and turpentine are obtained, or from those gums of the conifer species which may be employed informing soluble lead soaps either through direct combination with the lead or by the polymerizing process.

I may also employ the resinous element to increase the solubility of metallic soaps other than lead, to thereby render them soluble in benzol, gasolene, acetone, and

liquid fuels, such as paraffin oil, light lubricating oils or similar bodies.

While I have herein described at length the employment of distilled rosins, I have found that unpolymerized or ordinary ros ins may be satisfactorily employed. If a free fatty acid, and particularly oleic acid, is added to a resinate soap in an amount approximately equal to the lead resinate soap, such soap is rendered readily soluble in gasolene or other petroleum fuels. The fol-' lowing is a formula by means of which a satisfactory compound may be secured:

. Percent. Rosin 20.41 Litharge 7 .45 Oleie acid 27.30 Paraffin oil 448 f Benzol, kerosene or similar fuel oils may be substituted for the paraffin oil.

It Will be apparent that I do not limit myself to the precise steps and proportions set forth in the foregoing specification, but my invention is limited in scope only to the extent defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention: v

1. A fuel composition composed of a distillation product of rosin and oxide of lead, the acids of the rosin being in excess of the quantity thereof which the amount of contained lead is capable of neutralizing.

2. A fuel composition comprising oxide of lead, and an acid of a character capable of being neutralized by said lead the oxide of lead being approximately but one-half of the amount necessary to completely neutralizc said acid.

3. A fuel composition comprising rosin, combined with litharge, oleic acid and paratlin oil.

4-. A fuel composition comprising a lead soap containing rosin, an organic acid and a lead oxide.

5. A fuel composition comprising the following materials in substantially the percentages named:

Percent.

Rosin 20.41 vLitharge 7.45 Oleie acid 27.30 Paraflin oil 44.84

6. The process which comprises heating a distillation product of rosin, adding there-, to alead oxide in quantity insufiicient to completely neutralize the acids of the rosin, and adding said mixture to an explosion motor fuel.

7. The process which comprises providing a lead soap soluble in gasoline and the like, mixing therewith an acid capable of being neutralized by said soap, the amount of acid being substantially greater than the amount which the lead can neutralize, and adding said mixture to an explosion motor fuel.

In testimony whereof I, the said JosnrH E. BABE, have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH E. BABB. 

